Combination stepladder and table



Feb. 10, 1970 A COBSON 3,494,446

COMBINATION STEPLAD D'ER AND TABLE Filed Dec. 9, 1968" //v 5701? HEN/Q76. HCOJJ'0/l f/ mlzum firms/V0151 United States Patent 3,494,446 COMBINATION STEPLADDER AND TABLE Henry A. Jacobson, 5908 Xerxes Ave. S., Minneapolis, Minn. 55410 Filed Dec. 9, 1968, Ser. No. 782,053 Int. Cl. E06c 1/393 US. Cl. 18228 8 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A combination stepladder and table in which a portion of the stiles and platform of the stepladder are removed and a table top forming the leg portion of the stepladder is folded on the remaining portion of the steps to form a table.

My invention relates to the combination of a stepladder and table and more particularly to an improved stepladder and table unit which is rigid, compact and easy to set up and use.

The combination of a ladder with a support surface, such as a table, has previously been recognized and used. Such prior structures have been generally complex in construction requiring disassembly and reassembly of parts and have generally resulted in unstable structures for the purposes intended. In the present invention, an improved combination stepladder and table unit is provided which is relatively simple in design, may be readily converted between a ladder and a table for selected usage and required no dissassembly of parts, such as the removal of bolts or the equivalent retaining structures. This improved stepladder and table combination requires only unlatching of the step portion to remove a section of the same and to tilt the table part forming a portion of the back or leg of the ladder to a position where it becomes a functional table rigid in construction and easy to use. The connecting parts of the elements of the combined table and ladder remain permanently connected except for latches or snap connections which are readily usable to convert between the functional configurations. Further, the table part, which is a solid structure, defines the rigid leg or back portion of the ladder so as to form no obstruction in its usage as a ladder part. The entire construction is relatively lightweight, easy to handle and relatively low in cost.

Therefore, it is the principal object of this invention to provide an improved stepladder and table combination.

Another object of this invention is to provide in a stepladder-table combination a sturdy unit which may be readily interchanged from table to ladder usage without disassembly of parts.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved stepladder-table combination which provides a utility type work surface with no obstructions from the supporting legs of the same.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent from a reading of the attached description, together with the drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the improved stepladder table combination in erected ladder form;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevation view of the improved stepladder in ladder form and with the table configuration shown in dotted lines;

FIGURE 3 is an elevation view of an improved stepladder-table combination in the erected table form with a ladder part removed to show this stage of erection;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view of a portion of the improved stepladder-table combination shown in FIGURE 2 and taken along the lines 4-4 therein;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view of a portion of the im- 3,494,446 Patented Feb. 10, 1970 proved stepladder-table combination of FIGURE 1 taken along the lines 5--5 therein; and

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view of the portion of the improved stepladder-table combination of FIGURE 5 taken along the lines 66 therein.

My improved stepladder-table combination is shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 in the erected stepladder position with the table top portion shown in dotted lines as pivoted to the table configuration in FIGURE 2 to show the general relationship of parts. The ladder is indicated generally at 10 incorporating the conventional step structure, indicated generally at 12, which is formed of an upper and lower step part. The lower step part is formed by conventional stiles 14 with treads or steps 15 extending therebetween and connected thereto. The upper step part is formed by a pair of stile members 18 with one or more treads 20 extending therebetween and connected thereto. The upper step part includes the conventional platform 22 fixedly connected to the stiles and extending generally transverse therefrom. The upper and lower step parts fit together in a telescopic manner with the stiles being generally channel-shaped in cross section and pref erably made of a metal material, such as aluminum. The treads may be made of wood or aluminum and are fitted between the channel-shaped sections and secured thereto for rigidity purposes. The stiles of the upper step part are slightly wider in width dimension as to fit around a telescope upon the stiles 14 of the lower step part and a suitable latch mechanism, indicated generally at 25, interconnects the two. This latch mechanism is formed by a pin 26 positioned on the stiles of the upper step part and cooperating with a notched extremity 28 in the stiles 14 of the lower step part which has incorporated therewith a sliding notched latch mechanism 30 to secure the pins in the notches for assembly purposes. The overall length of the stiles 18 of the uper step part are of suflicient dimension as to overlap the stiles 14 of the lower step part to provide an overall rigid ladder construction.

The ladder includes a back or supporting leg portion, indicated generally at 40, which is comprised of a lower leg structure having supporting stiles 42 and cross braces 44 suit-ably connected to form the supporting bottom leg. Attached to this leg structure is a table top 50 which is pivotally connected to the leg structure by means of flange plates 55 secured to the upper ends of the leg stiles. The flange plates 55 are positioned on either side of the stiles and have a transversely extending part, indicated at 60, with a suitable pivot hole (not shown) :and pivot pin 63 therein which extend through supporting ribs 65 on the undersurface of the table top. In that erected or ladder position of the combination, the table top '50, which overhangs or projects beyond the supporting ribs 65, will be aligned with and generally parallel to the leg structure. The pivot point between the leg structure and the table top is offset from the end of the table extent or intermediate the extent of the supporting ribs such that the ribs will overlie the stiles and bear against the same to provide a continuous leg support structure for the ladder. A latch member 70, mounted on the undersurf-ace of the table, connects to a cross brace 72 extending between the stiles 42 of the leg structure to latch the leg structure and table top in assembled re lationship and provide an elongated rigid leg structure for the ladder. In addition, a pair of pivoted linkage members, indicated at 75, 76, are positioned on the outside of each stile and extend between the stiles 42 and supporting ribs 65 for the table top, which lever members are pivoted on the respective parts and pivotally connected at their free extremity :to provide a convent-ional pivot linkage with a suitable stop flange, such as is indicated at 77, on one of the members which will limit the pivoting of the links in one direction to a position of alignment for a conventional bracing. The type of linkage system has to be manually deflected inwardly away from the stop to permit folding of the connected parts. The opposite extremity of the table top includes a first pair of flange plates 78 with a suitable aperture 79 therethrough positioned on either side of the supporting r-ibe 65 underneath the table top for the purpose of connecting this extremity of the table top to the platform 22. The underside of the platform has a pair of slidably mounted pins 80 with suitable return springs 82 and operating linkages or handles 84 therein which permit the pins 80 to be slidably mounted in flanges 85 such that the pins may be directed through the apertures 79 in the flange plates 78 to connect the leg structure with the step structure of the ladder and form the overall composite stepladder configuration. Additional flange plates 87 positioned on either side of the rib structure intermediate their extent and which extend transverse of the rib structures include a pin 88 extending between the flange plates 87 associated with each of the supporting ribs 65 which in the folded position of the table top will enter the notches 28 in the stiles of the lower step part to secure the table top in the erected table position.

'In addition to the abov,e links '92, 94 connected respectively to the lower step structure and leg structure of the ladder, provide a conventional linkage system to limit opening of the ladder and support of the same. Thus, the links 92 are pivoted on the stiles 14 through pivotal connections 95 while the links 94 are pivoted on the stiles 42 of the :leg structure, as at 96, with the free extremities of the links being pivotally connected together, as at 97, and one of the link-s having a suitable stop flange 98 formed integral therewith to limit the opening direction of the linkage system, such as is shown in FIG- URE *1. This linkage system permanently connects the lower part of the step structure of the ladder and the leg structure of the ladder together to provide overall rigidly of the ladder and table base. The lower leg structure, that is the stiles 42 and cross bracing as well as the table top 15 with the supporting ribs '65, are generally made of a wood structure for simplicity in construction but may be metallic if desired.

In the assembled position of the ladder, the upper step structure formed by the stiles 18 and interconnecting step 20 with the platform 22 will be positoned on the lower step structure formed by the stiles '14 in the interconnecting steps or treads 15 such that the pins 26 on the upper stiles 18 will be positioned in the notches 28 of the lower stiles and with the lower stiles fitting over the upper stiles 18 will be positioned in the notches 28 of bers, as indicated in sectional views in FIGURES and 6, will secure the pins in this position in the notches 28 and an overall composite step structure 12 will be provided. The leg portion of the ladder is secured to this step structure. :It is formed by the table top and lower step structure 42 which has the table top pivoted to a position of alignment with the extent of the stiles 42 of the lower leg structure and with the link-age members 7'5, 7'6 folded. The latch member 70 on the underside of the table top will be connected to the cross brace 72 to retain the table top in this position of alignment. The upper extremity end of the table top, that is the supporting ribs will bear against the end of the platform 22 such that the aperture 79 of the flanges 78 will be aligned with the pins 80 for the latch mechanism which will be opened by deflecting the hand grips 84 to move the pins against the springs and allow the pins to extend through the apertures 79 to secure the upper end of the leg structure against the platform. In the opened position of the ladder, the linkages 92, 94 will be aligned with the stop structure preventing further movement in this direction to provide an overall rigid step ladder configuration.

This structure may be readily assembled as a table by releasing the latch formed by the pins and aperture 79 between the platform .and extremity of the table top. The upper step structure will then be removed from the lower step structure by release of the latches 30 in the stiles 14 allowing the pins 2-6 in the stiles 18 to slide out of the notches '28 so that the upper step structure may be removed from the ladder. The table top 50 is then pivoted with respect to the remaining leg structure or stiles 42 by release of the latch 71 from the bar 72 allowing'the table top to pivot on the flange plates 55 through the pivot connection formed by the pins 63 in the aperture 62 of the flange plates. This will bring the table top to the position, as shown in phantom in FIG- URE 2, and in erected position in FIGURE 3. The pins 88 in the flanges 87 on the rib structure or rib member 65 of the table top will be positioned into the notches 28 and latched therein. Similarly, the linkages 75, 76 will be extended to a lock or rigid position whereby a composite table structure is formed with the supporting legs being comprised of the stiles 14 forming the lower step structure and the leg support structure 42 of the ladder. In this table configuration, the upper step structure is not used, but an overall table configuration is provided in which the table extent will overhang generally the supporting legs and provides a sturdy overall work surface or supporting surface.

This improved stepladder-table combination does not require any disassembly of parts by removal of nut and bolt connections but merely provides for the simple unlatching of a portion. of the ladder and the removal of the same together with pivoting of the table portion of the supporting leg structure to the horizontal or table position. All of the parts remain permanently connected to provide an overall rigid structure which is easy to set up and use.

What is claimed is:

1. A combination stepladder and table comprising, a step structure formed of two telescopic parts each having stile members and connecting treads, the upper telescopic part having a platform secured thereto and extending transversely therefrom at the upper extremity thereof and with the opposite extremity of the upper telescopic part adapted to fit over and slide on the lower telescopic part, a leg structure for the stepladder including a leg section and a flange means at the extremity of the same, a table top pivotally connected to the flange means and adapted to be positioned selectively parallel to the leg section and transverse thereto through pivotal movement of the table top on the flange member, releasable latch means included in part on the platform of the upper telescopic part of the step structure and in an extremity of the table top, releasable coupling means included in the telescopic parts of the step structure including pin means and a latch means, said ladder converting to a table by removal of the upper telescopic part of the leg structure and pivoting on the table top on the flange means to engage the latch means on the lower telescopic part of the step structure, and means pivotally connecting the lower telescopic part of the step structure and the leg section of the leg structure of the ladder.

2. The combination stepladder and table of claim 1 in which the releasable coupling in the upper extremity of the stile members for the lower telescopic parts of the step structure includes notched extremities with latch members associated with the notches to secure pins located on the stile members of the upper telescopic part of the step structure of the ladder and on the table top.

3. The combination stepladder and table of claim 2 and including a pivotedlinkage means permanently connecting one end of the table part and the leg section of the ladder to limit movement of the table part relative to the leg section.

4. The combination stepladder and table of claim 3 in which the releasable latch means includes releasable pin means positioned on the under portion of the platform secured to the upper telescopic part of the step portion of the ladder and adapted to cooperate with aperture means in the table top to secure the ladder in assembled relationship.

5. The combination stepladder and table of claim 1 in which the means pivotally connecting the leg section and lower telescopic part of the step portion of the ladder include a pair of pivoted linkage members permanently connected to the stile members and leg sections of the ladder with a stop defining an open position for the ladder and the table support.

6. The combination stepladder and table of claim 5 in which the stile members forming the step structure of the ladder are made of channel-shaped metal material with the latch means positioned within the channels of the stile members and with the stile members slidable on one another in a telescopic manner.

7. The combination stepladder and table of claim 6 in which the table portion is formed of a wood material and in which the flange means at the ends of the leg 6 section are respectively a pair of flange plates defining ribs on the undersurface of the table top with the step section to provide a rest position for the table top on the leg structure in the pivoted position of the table.

8. The combination stepladder and table of claim 7 in which the flange means is pivotally connected to the table top intermediate the extent of the same such that the table top extends beyond the upper extremity of the leg section and in which the opposite extremity of the table top is secured to the lower telescopic part of the step structure offset from the extremity to overhang the lower telescopic part when assembled as a table.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 400,158 3/1889 Armstrong 18229 579,328 3/1897 McConnell 182-28 671,004 4/1901 Shaw et a1 18228 677,714 7/1901 Stout 18228 784,190 3/1905 Stoneking 182-29 REINALDO P. MACHADO, Primary Examiner UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION atent N 3 ,494,446 Dated Februagy 10, 1970 Inventor(s) Henrv A. Jacobson It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Page 4, Line 59, after "pivoting" delete "on" and substitute therefor -of--.

SIGNED A'ND SEALED JUN 3 01970 Anew Edwin! M. Fletch r, I a r Pt, t o

Officer 9 F ORM PO- l 050 (10-69) USCOMM-DC 60:76-P59 v u.s covtmmtm' HUNTING OFHCI ill! o-su-nu 

